TMJ Therapy
Burbank, CA
TMJ THERAPY provided by Lawrence Toomin, DDS
and Mark Bieber, DDS
in Burbank, CA at Toomin & Bieber Aesthetic Comprehensive Dentistry
If you experience headaches, neck and jaw pain, or notice that your teeth are showing signs of wear, you may have misalignment of your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) - the joints that connect the jaw to the skull.
What is the Temporomandibular Joint?
The jaw muscles and joints that open and close your mouth are called the temporomandibular joints or TMJ. They work together when you chew, speak or swallow. The TMJ is located on the side of your head and includes the jaw bone, ligaments, and muscles. Fine movement in these muscles can also move your jaw (mandible) side to side, back and forward.
What Causes TMJ Issues?
Because the TMJ is such an intricate joint with so many different pivot points and movement abilities, it is prone to irritation. Some of the things that can lead to TMJ irritation are:
| • |
Nighttime teeth grinding, AKA bruxism
|
| • |
A blow to the face or jaw
|
| • |
A change in the way your teeth fit together
|
| • |
A lost tooth that is not replaced
|
| • |
Clenching of the jaw |
If you have lost a tooth and notice that your bite has changed, and you also have TMJ issues, it’s pretty easy to surmise that the cause of your TMJ is the change in your bite. It can be harder to know what’s causing your TMJ if the issue isn’t so obvious. Things like clenching your teeth or nighttime teeth grinding are usually subconscious issues that you may not even be aware of. Many people grind their teeth at night and don’t even realize it. Some people clench their jaw throughout the day as a response to stress and only occasionally are aware of it. No matter what the issue, if you have TMJ pain, make sure to call us to schedule an appointment and we will help you to find the cause of the issue.
Inflamed TMJ
We encourage you to get to the root of the cause of TMJ inflammation by visiting our practice. There is substantial evidence that TMDs are linked to stress levels so if you have any symptoms that are causing your joint's inflammation, taking care of yourself is a good start. Visit our team to learn more about how to ease jaw aches when your TMJ gets inflamed.
Ways to Treat TMJ Pain and Fatigue
At Toomin & Bieber Aesthetic Comprehensive Dentistry, we are TMJ Specialists and have extensive experience in treating TMJ. We use bite splints to treat TMJ pain and fatigue. Bite splints are the way that we treat most cases of TMJ. A bite splint is similar to a mouthguard you might see someone in sports using. It is a custom-made splint that fits over your teeth and prevents them from coming together entirely. It is meant to stabilize the muscles in your TMJ and prevent yours from grinding your teeth at night. Bite splints are a low cost, high-quality solution to painful TMJ issues. Not all TMJ issues can be treated with a bite splint, but most can.
 Headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, teeth grinding, etc. can mean that your jaw and the TMJ systems are not working properly. Dr. Bieber and Dr. Toomin use splint therapy and TMJ therapy to correct many of these problems. When your jaw and joints function properly, you will have relief from these painful symptoms and your teeth will last longer. If you think this might be an issue for you contact our Burbank dentist office today to schedule a TMJ therapy consultation.
 What our Patients are Saying:
Appreciating Your Approach & Commitment...
"Because I've had such a positive experience under your care, I wanted to formally thank you. I also thought you might want to share my experience with patients experiencing similar issues.
You were highly recommended when I was looking for a new dentist. I needed one who would go beyond typical dentistry and spend the time to understand and help me with my unique issues. Specifically, for years I experienced 3-4 headaches a week. Though not usually debilitating, they were considered migraines due to symptoms such as nausea. It was definitely affecting my quality of life and I had reason to believe that the cause of my headaches had to do with my teeth.
While many people grind their teeth – especially at night – I began to realize that I constantly clenched my teeth, clamping down hard at night and even throughout the day. I came to your office first and foremost hoping you might have treatment ideas, such as using a night guard or splint). Apparently I came to the right place.
I have to admit, at first I wasn't so sure about the splint, as the frequency of my headaches actually increased temporarily and this is where I was most impressed by your deep commitment to help me. Your determination to "get it right, no matter what" was most reassuring; it was obvious you take your work very personally.
After the first adjustment appointment, the difference was night and day – no headaches, but you continued to make adjustments in follow-up appointments until the fit was perfect. Now I think it's safe to say that you "got it right". It's been a full month without a single headache, and I can hardly believe it. It's hard to get across what a major difference this is making in my life.
I had three appointments last year with a Neurologist, but I stopped going because we didn't seem to be making any progress and he wanted to prescribe a drug. My gut told me the problem had a real solution. Thank you for helping me to find it. I wear the splint at night (it's quite comfortable) and it's easy to maintain (like most guys, I don't do well with "maintenance").
In a world of cookie-cutter, fast-food medical care, your approach and commitment is sincerely appreciated. I will definitely recommend you and your staff to anyone looking for a new dentist. " |
